Bolts get another first-round pick as Rangers advance

By virtue of the New York Rangers Game 7 victory against Pittsburgh on Tuesday and advancing to the Eastern Conference final, the Tampa Bay Lightning now hold a pair of first-round selections in next month's NHL Entry Draft.

In the trade-deadline deal that sent Marty St. Louis to the Rangers, Tampa Bay received Ryan Callahan, a conditional second-round pick in 2014 and a first-round pick in 2015.

The conditional second-round pick would turn into a first-round pick if New York advanced to the East final, which the Rangers did by overcoming a 3-1 series deficit against the Penguins, winning 2-1.

New York awaits the winner of the other East semifinal between Boston and Montreal, who will play in a Game 7 on Wednesday.

The additional first-round pick will be in the 26th to 29th overall range depending on how far the Rangers advance. New Jersey will hold the 30th overall pick as a penalty for circumventing the salary cap with the contract signed by Ilya Kovalchuk.

Tampa Bay also currently holds the 18th overall pick this year, but that could change depending on the results of the remaining postseason matchups.

The book has yet to close on the St. Louis deal, however, as the Lightning would send their second-round pick in 2015 to the Rangers and acquire New York's seventh-round pick next year if Callahan re-signs with the Lightning.